Maricopa County officials, in partnership with the Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA), the City of Tempe, and other stakeholders, marked the beginning of construction on the East Valley Housing, Health, and Human Services Center. The new facility aims to broaden essential services for unhoused and underserved residents in Tempe.
“Breaking ground on this new facility in Tempe is more than just adding shelter beds,” said Thomas Galvin, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, District 2. “It’s about creating a hub where people can find stability, support, and a meaningful path forward. This investment helps people get back on their feet by providing a roof over their heads along with the resources and guidance they need to rebuild their lives.”
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors allocated $6 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in December 2021 for this project. The funding supports 80 additional shelter beds for emergency and bridge housing at TCAA’s new permanent headquarters. Located near Loop 101 Freeway and Apache Blvd., the center is expected to serve more than 40,000 clients each year—a projected increase of 15%. The site will include a market-style pantry covering 2,300 square feet, a kitchen spanning 2,000 square feet, and a Resource Navigation and Economic Empowerment Hub occupying 3,000 square feet that will offer financial aid and support services. TCAA plans to open its new headquarters by May 2026 as part of its 60th anniversary observance.
According to the most recent Point in Time Count conducted in 2024, there were 266 homeless individuals living in Tempe. Maricopa County collaborates with various organizations to provide outreach efforts, case management, shelter options, and additional services intended to help those experiencing homelessness transition into stable housing arrangements. Further information about these initiatives is available at Maricopa.gov/HS.
In related educational data from Maricopa County schools during the past two academic years: In the 2022-23 school year, roughly two-thirds of students failed standardized mathematics assessments—62.9% among grades three through eight taking AASA tests (https://www.azed.gov/) and 65% among high schoolers taking ACT exams (https://www.azed.gov/). English proficiency rates also showed similar trends with failure rates at 57.2% for younger students (AASA) (https://www.azed.gov/) and 57% for high school students (ACT) (https://www.azed.gov/). However, more recently during the 2023-24 school year there was some improvement: approximately one-third of high schoolers passed mathematics on the ACT (33.9%) (https://www.azed.gov/) while about 36% of students in grades three through eight passed mathematics on AASA assessments (https://www.azed.gov/).
